Dahlia plant named ‘Dodahhypnowhit 19’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘Dodahhypnowhit 19’, characterized by its relatively compact, broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; relatively small dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; medium to large inflorescences with white-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Dahlia variabilis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DODAHHYPNOWHIT 19’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Dodahhypnowhit 19’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new container Dahlia plants that havea freely branching and flowering habit, dark-colored leaves, largeattractive inflorescences and good postproduction longevity.

The new Dahlia plant originated from a cross-pollination in De Lier, TheNetherlands of two unidentified proprietary selections of Dahliavariabilis, not patented. The new Dahlia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in De Lier, The Netherlands during the spring of 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, TheNetherlands since the spring of 2015 has shown that the unique featuresof this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dodahhypnowhit 19’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dodahhypnowhit 19’ as a newand distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, broadly upright and uniformly mounding        plant habit.    -   2. Relatively small dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Medium to large inflorescences with white-colored ray        florets.    -   5. Good postproduction longevity.

Compared to plants of the parent selections, plants of the new Dahliadiffer primarily in growth habit as plants of the new Dahlia are moreuniformly mounding than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia‘Fidahhypwhi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,256. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of‘Fidahhypwhi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia have smaller leaves than plants of        ‘Fidahhypwhi’.    -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia have inflorescences than plants of        ‘Fidahhypwhi’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Dahlia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Dodahhypnowhit 19’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘Dodahhypnowhit 19’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the late summer and earlyautumn in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, TheNetherlands and under environmental conditions and cultural practiceswhich approximate those generally used in commercial potted Dahliaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 24° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C.and light levels averaged 600 watt/m². Plants were ten weeks old whenthe photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis ‘Dodahhypnowhit 19’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection            of Dahlia variabilis, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection            of Dahlia variabilis, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at            temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 2.5 weeks at            temperatures about 20° C. to 22° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            whitish grey in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots; tuber            development has not been observed on plants of the new            Dahlia.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, broadly upright            and uniformly mounding plant form; broad inverted triangle;            moderately freely basal branching with about two primary            lateral branches developing per plant, each primary lateral            branch with about eight to eleven secondary branches;            inflorescences held above the foliar plane on strong            peduncles; bushy and dense habit; moderately vigorous growth            habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 34            cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 26 cm by 27 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 13 cm to 15 cm. Diameter:            About 1 cm. Internode length: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Aspect:            Erect to somewhat outwardly spreading. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.            Color: Close to 144A; at the internodes, close to 146B; with            development, color becoming closer to 146B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; leaves may be single or compound with            three or occasionally five leaflets.        -   Leaf length.—About 18 cm to 20 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 14 cm to 18 cm.        -   Leaflet length.—About 6 cm to 9 cm.        -   Leaflet width.—About 3 cm to 4 cm.        -   Leaf and leaflet shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaf and leaflet apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf and leaflet base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf and leaflet margin.—Serrate to dentate.        -   Leaf and leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Leaf and leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Sparsely            pubescent; slightly rough; slightly glossy.        -   Leaf and leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Sparsely            pubescent; slightly rough; matte.        -   Color.—Developing leaves and leaflets, upper surface: Close            to 133A. Developing leaves and leaflets, lower surface:.            Close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves and leaflets, upper            surface: Close to N137B; venation, close to N137B. Fully            expanded leaves and leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138B;            venation, close to N138B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm. Diameter: About            4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Double inflorescence form with            ray florets forming acropetally on a receptacle;            inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane on strong            peduncles; inflorescences face mostly upright; freely            flowering habit with about eight to twelve inflorescences            per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Time to flower.—Plants flower continuously from spring            through the autumn in The Netherlands; early flowering            habit, plants begin flowering about 50 to 60 days after            planting.        -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good            substance for about two weeks on the plant; inflorescences            persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 8 mm. Diameter: About            1.2 cm. Shape: Globular, flattened. Texture and luster:            Smooth; semi-glossy. Color: Close to N137D.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7 cm to 9 cm. Depth            (height): About 14 cm to 16 cm. Disc diameter: About 1 cm.            Receptacle height: About 5 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 2            cm to 3 cm. Receptacle color: Close to 137C.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 60 to 70            arranged in about eight whorls. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width:            About 1.4 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Obtuse to acute.            Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Initially upright to            roughly perpendicular to the peduncle; somewhat concave.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to NN155D; venation, close to NN155D; color            does not change with development. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to NN155B; venation, close to            NN155B; color does not change with development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 10 to 15            arranged in about two to three whorls. Length: About 1.2 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated; apices            obtuse. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color,            when opening and fully opened: Close to 1B.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About eight arranged            in a single whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 7 mm.            Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 137A;            venation, close to 137A. Color, lower surface: Close to            137B; venation, close to 137B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 8 cm to 12 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 4 mm. Aspect: Mostly            erect. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Quantity per floret: One. Filament length: About 4 mm.            Filament color: Close to 17A. Anther shape: Narrowly            elliptic. Anther size: About 9 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther color:            Close to 6A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to            17B. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only. Quantity per            floret: One. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to            2A. Stigma diameter: About 3 mm. Stigma color: Close to 7A.            Ovary color: Close to 145C. Seeds: To date, seed development            has not been observed on plants of the new Dahlia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Dahlia have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Dahlia plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Dahlia tolerate high    temperatures about 35° C. and short periods of low temperatures    about 5° to 10° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘Dodahhypnowhit19’ as illustrated and described.